Go to page

Member

Praise be, Mkhi going out on loan to Roma. I'm sure Arsenal will have to pay some of his wages, but saving 6-7m of the 9m he'll get paid this year and not having to see him on the pitch again is absolutely worth it.

Member

Praise be, Mkhi going out on loan to Roma. I'm sure Arsenal will have to pay some of his wages, but saving 6-7m of the 9m he'll get paid this year and not having to see him on the pitch again is absolutely worth it.

Supposedly they're paying his whole salary on top of a small loan fee. Which is great. I really didn't expect anyone to take him without a lot of money stapled to him. Raul has turned over a lot of the team now, and they're definitely better for it. They shaved over $50 mil from the wage bill this year, and you have to hope they use that to lock up their good young players. If the Ozil to DC united thing actually happens (and it could in January), Raul would deserve a statue. Not a big one out front, but maybe like a little one on a table in the press buffet area, or a training room. Nothing over 3 ft.

Member

Supposedly they're paying his whole salary on top of a small loan fee. Which is great. I really didn't expect anyone to take him without a lot of money stapled to him. Raul has turned over a lot of the team now, and they're definitely better for it. They shaved over $50 mil from the wage bill this year, and you have to hope they use that to lock up their good young players. If the Ozil to DC united thing actually happens (and it could in January), Raul would deserve a statue. Not a big one out front, but maybe like a little one on a table in the press buffet area, or a training room. Nothing over 3 ft.

Member

Ozil also came over in 2013, and first played for the Gunners about a week and a half before Bellerin made his debut. He's not a regular starter, but Emiliano Martinez made his debut for the first team in 2012. He's out on loan, so whether he counts or not is debatable. But I'm pretty sure you have to count Ozil.

Sunny von Bulow

Dope

There has been a shift in how top teams play over the years. Strict #10's with no defensive ability because outdated very quickly...but its all cyclical. In a few years some manager will play one with 2 holding midfielders who do nothing but defend and be successful, and then they'll become en vogue again.

Well-Known Member

The thing is he doesn’t get played so who even knows. You can’t convince me that his passing ability is worth less than Xhaka playing defense and more or less doing nothing on offense. Özil still creates tons of chances whenever his coach plays him. I can’t help but think that Auba and Lacazette could use him passing to them. Or that the defense currently being played is that much better than he is capable of. Perhaps Emery is looking for mids that hustle and try to close players down immediately.. but the passing has been hurt by this defense first thought process.. and the defense doesn’t look much better for it.

Member

The thing is he doesn’t get played so who even knows. You can’t convince me that his passing ability is worth less than Xhaka playing defense and more or less doing nothing on offense. Özil still creates tons of chances whenever his coach plays him. I can’t help but think that Auba and Lacazette could use him passing to them. Or that the defense currently being played is that much better than he is capable of. Perhaps Emery is looking for mids that hustle and try to close players down immediately.. but the passing has been hurt by this defense first thought process.. and the defense doesn’t look much better for it.

But Xhaka and Ozil are not like for like substitutes. Ozil has not played because players like Iwobi, Ramsey, and now Ceballos were being played instead of him. And all of them were better suited to the pressing the coach wants out of the role. There is a reason Ozil has fallen out of favor with his national team and club team at the same time, and no other club has stepped up with an offer for him. His style of play is currently out of favor and doesn't work with the systems that are in use.

Well-Known Member

But Xhaka and Ozil are not like for like substitutes. Ozil has not played because players like Iwobi, Ramsey, and now Ceballos were being played instead of him. And all of them were better suited to the pressing the coach wants out of the role. There is a reason Ozil has fallen out of favor with his national team and club team at the same time, and no other club has stepped up with an offer for him. His style of play is currently out of favor and doesn't work with the systems that are in use.

Fair enough. I think emery is a slave to formation and style of play.. he tries to shoe horn his players into a system.. and then changes or tweaks each game depending on opponent so that the same set of players never play together. Özil in my mind fits perfectly in a 3 4 1 2 or similar where he’s a slightly withdrawn forward almost.

I hated both Ramsey and iwobi’s style of play. Ramsey was constantly out of position and was always way too far forward and to my eye was always late or slow at tracking back. Iwobi could get the ball in mid but could barely dribble or pass... and his crosses were some of the worst I’ve ever seen.

I know I’m a rare Özil fan, but his passing is exquisite and I think he makes their attack far more dangerous. Ceballos is an upgrade over the other two you mentioned but I’d like to see him and Özil together at some point.

Member

Some good news on the injury front: Holding, Tierney, and Bellerin are all back in full training. About in line with the expected timelines, but good to hear. I hope we see start seeing them out there in a few weeks.

Joe Willock also signed a new 4 year deal. He’s had a promising start, I am looking forward to watching his progress this year. As someone that’s been with the academy since he was 4, he must be pretty happy.

Member

Some good news on the injury front: Holding, Tierney, and Bellerin are all back in full training. About in line with the expected timelines, but good to hear. I hope we see start seeing them out there in a few weeks.

Joe Willock also signed a new 4 year deal. He’s had a promising start, I am looking forward to watching his progress this year. As someone that’s been with the academy since he was 4, he must be pretty happy.

Holding has been in full training for over a month and playing games at the U23 level, so he should be eased back into playing with the senior team soon. I'd guess he gets subbed into the Europa league game next and gets his first time there. Judging by how he was brought back, it's going to be at least a month before we see Bellerin or Tierney. But I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them all in the side.

Member

Having spent some time looking for the bright side on the Lacazette news, I am hoping it means we get to see some more Nelson the next few weeks. With Man U being the only notable Premier League match in the next month or so, he can get a little more experience in a series of matches that are a little lower profile. (I am not too concerned with Europa and hope they rest most of the main XI.)

Plus, as much as I love having Pepe, Lacazette, and Aubameyang playing together, Aubameyang is at his best in the middle, so the offense should be fine.

Anyway, personally I will enjoy seeing some good game time from a couple of young academy products (Nelson and Willock).

Guest, I have a big favor to ask you. We've been working very hard to establish ourselves on social media. If you like/follow our pages it would be a HUGE help to us.
SoSH on Facebook and Inside the Pylon
Thanks!
Nip